Portosystemic Shunts: Stable Utilization and Improved Outcomes, Two Decades After the Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt

PurposeThe aim of this study was to assess national trends in utilization, demographics, hospital characteristics, and outcomes of patients undergoing surgical or percutaneous portal decompression since the introduction of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS).MethodsA retrospective analysis of patients undergoing surgical portal decompression and TIPS procedures was conducted using Medicare Physician/Supplier Procedure Summary Master Files from January 2003 through December 2013 and National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample data from 1993, 2003, and 2012. Utilization rates normalized to the annual number of Medicare enrollees, estimated means, and 95% confidence intervals were calculated.ResultsThe Medicare total annual utilization rate per million for all portosystemic decompression procedures decreased by 6.5% during the study period, from 15.3 in 2003 to 14.3 in 2013. TIPS utilization increased by 19.4% (from 10.3 to 12.3 per million), whereas open surgical shunt utilization decreased by 60.0% (from 5.0 to 2.0 per million). TIPS procedures represented 86% of all procedures in 2013. From 1993 to 2012, mean age increased slightly (from 53.0 to 55.5 years, P < .05). The percentage of procedures performed at teaching hospitals increased, whereas in-hospital mortality and length of stay decreased by 42% (P < .05) and 20% (P < .05), respectively. Of factors evaluated, the performance of procedures on an elective basis was the most influential on in-hospital mortality (P < .01, all years studied) and length of stay (P < .0001, all years studied).ConclusionsApproximately two decades after the introduction of TIPS, the utilization of all portal decompression procedures has remained relatively stable. The TIPS procedure represents the dominant portal decompression technique. In-hospital mortality and mean length of stay after decompression have decreased, partially because of the performance of procedures during elective admissions.